Container closure means



p 1936. B. F. CONNER ET AL 2,054,034

CONTAINER QLOSURE MEANS Original Filed May 4, 1954 Patented Sept. 8,1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER CLOSURE MEANS Originalapplication May 4, 1934, Serial No. 723,865. Divided and thisapplication July 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,529

18 Claims.

This invention relates to container closure means of the type having a.readily breakable portion which is necessarily broken when the closuremeans or one member thereof is removed to permit access to or dischargeof the container contents. A closure means of this character whenproperly put in place on a container serves, so long as it remainsunbroken, as a definite indication to the ultimate consumer and to eachintermediate distributor or dealer who handles the package that theoriginal contents are intact and that there has been no substitution oradulteration. More particularly the present invention relates tocontainer closure means such as disclosed in our copending application,Serial No.

723,865, of which this present application is a division. I I

In a container closure means of this type there is a readily breakableindicator member which may be formed to also constitute a closure forthe container. Associated with the readily breakable indicator member isa concealed device which permits free movement of the indicator in theclosing direction into its normal position but which automaticallyserves to break a portion of the indicator member upon movement thereofin the opening or unsealing direction. The indicator member serves as aseal or lock for the closure, and when broken it provides a definitewarning to anyone handling the package that the container may have beenopened and the contents tampered with. The ultimate consumer or anydistributor or dealer, by accepting only a package having the seal orindicator thereof intact, can thereby be certain that he is obtainingthe original contents of the package as shown by the trade-mark or labelor other marking thereon.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container closuremeans wherein the indi- 4 cator member serves as the main or primaryclosure for the container, thus avoiding the necessity for a separateand independently effective primary closure. 7

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown several differentembodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that the drawingis intended for illustrative purposes only and is not 50 to be construedas defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming apart of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a container closure meansembodying the invention, the closure means being in place on a bottlewhich is shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the con tainer and of the breakingdevice carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing 5 the closureturnedslightly in the unscrewing di. rection so as to break the upperportion thereofr Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing analternative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and showing 10 an auxiliary lid inplace on the closure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken. along the line 6-6 of Fig.5.

Fig. 71s a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another alternativeembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig.'7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing the outer closureslightly turned in the unscrewing direction to break the upper portionthereof.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. l, but showingstill another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the metallic breaking device shown in Fig. 10.

Fig; 12 is a plan view of the spout of the container shown in Fig. 10,the closure and breaking device being omitted.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Figs. 1 to 3, I represents acontainer with which the container closure means embodying the inventionmay be used, the said container having a mouth or opening 2. Thecontainer is shown as being a glass bottle, but it will be understoodthat the invention may be used with a wide variety of con- 3 tainers.

The indicatorelement or closure is represented at 3, and it is shown asbeing a complete closure of the cap type entirely covering the opening 2in the container. The closure 3 is provided with an internal thread 4for engaging an external thread 5 on the container I. The closure 3 hasan externally visible portion 6 at the top which is adapted to bereadily broken'or separated from the remainder of the closure, thisportion being surrounded by an annular zone of weakness shown at l. r

The closure 3 is provided with means surrounding the indicator portion 6for directly engaging the top of the container 1 to prevent the escapeof the container contents. Preferablyand as shown this means is anannular gasket or liner 8 seated in a suitable annular recess in theclosure. The indicator member or closure 3. may. be

formed of any one of a variety of materials, but it is preferred to moldthe said member from a material of the synthetic resin class. Such amaterial is somewhat brittle and is readily breakable when provided witha sufliciently thin zone of weakness such as that at 7, and it has thefurther advantages that it is available in a variety of colors and canbe readily molded to provide any desired external trade-mark orornamental design. Synthetic resin material has the further advantagethat upon breaking it does not form sharp fragments or splintersdangerous to the person opening the container. Container closures forthe same general purpose as the present closure have commonly been madeof glass or metal, and have been seriously objectionable because of thelikelihood of injury to the hands of the user.

Associated with the readily breakable portion 6 of the closure 3 is adevice structurally separate from the indicator member and adapted topermit the said closure to be screwed into its normal position, butcausing breaking of the portion 6 thereof when the closure is turned inthe opposite unscrewing direction. Preferably to facilitate the actionof the breaking device, the readily breakable portion 6 is provided withinternal teeth as indicated at 9. The teeth 9 are preferably veryshallow in order to permit removal from the mold, such removal beingpossible by reason of the resilience of the molded material while stillhot. The teeth as shown in the drawing are somewhat exaggerated in size.

While the invention is not so limited the breaking device mayconveniently be a metallic element such as I0 having resilient pawls II, I I. The breaking device I0, instead of being supported or held by aseparate and complete inner closure, is supported directly by thecontainer I so as to be held against relative rotative-movemement in atleast one direction. As shown in Fig. 1, the mouth of the container hasa portion 2 which is noncircular in horizontal section, being shown ashexagonal. The breaking device is formed of sheet metal which isexternally shaped to fit the portion 2 of the container. The breakingdevice is supported by a ledge at the bottom of the portion 2. It willbe observed that the breaking device can be engaged with or disengagedfrom the container by being moved vertically and without any rotativemovement. While the closure is being screwed into its normal position,the pawls II, II freely snap over the teeth 9 of the breakable portion6; but upon movement of the closure in the opposite or unscrewingdirection, the pawls II, II automatically engage and hold the said teeth9 and thereby break the said portion 6.

In using the closure means shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the bottle or containeris filled in the usual way and the sheet metal breaking device I0 isdropped into place. Then the closure 3 is screwed into engagement withthe thread on the container, the container being thus sealed in theusual way. With the parts thus assembled access to the contents of thecontainer can only be obtained by first forcibly unscrewing the closure3. The pawls I I, I I, being in engagement with the teeth 9, resist theturning movement, and the said pawls are bent upward, thus exerting anupward force on the portion 6 which breaks it in the upward direction asshown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that with the construction shown and described theclosure 3 is destroyed when removed, thus making it impossible for thesaid closure to be. used to efiectively reseal the bottle or container.However, for many classes of products this is unobjectionable as thepractice is to immediately use the entire contents of the container,thus avoiding any need for rescaling.

In the event that at least a partial resealing is required, use may bemade of the alternative construction shown in Figs. 4 to 6. In thisconstruction there is provided a closure 3 which may be initiallyexactly like the closure 3 except that it is provided with an annularrabbet or seat I2 adapted to receive an auxiliary lid. The closure 3 isused in the same manner as already described in connection with Figs. 1to 3.

For use in conjunction with the closure 3 there is provided an auxiliarylid I3 having a downward extending peripheral flange adapted to enterthe rabbet or seat I2, and the walls of the flange and the rabbet may beserrated as indicated at I4 to prevent relative rotation. It will beunderstood that the lid I3 is not originally in place on the closure 3but it may be supplied in the same package with the container. After thebreakable top portion of the closure 3 has been broken out, as indicatedin Fig. 5, the lid I3 may be put in place to provide at least a partialclosure for the container. The lid I3 will not efiectively seal thecontainer, but it will cover the opening in the closure 3 to excludedust and dirt.

The construction shown in Figs. '7 to 9 differs from those shown inFigs. 1 to 6 in that the breaking device I5 is larger and completelycovers the mouth of the container. The device I5 may have verticalcorrugations as shown at I6 and the container or bottle may have one ormore vertical ribs I! to engage with the corrugations to preventrelative rotation. The device I5 has in tegral resilient pawls I8, I8similar to the pawls II, II of the device III. Fitted within the deviceI5 is a gasket or liner I9 for engaging the top of the bottle.

The closure 3 is similar to the closure 3, but has no liner or gasket.The closure 3 is provided at 20 with a downward facing shoulder forengaging the device I5 to apply downward pressure thereto and thus forcethe liner I9 against the top of the bottle.

When the closure 3 is unscrewed the top portion thereof is broken out inthe manner already described and as shown in Fig. 9. It will be observedthat the closure 3* remains effective to engage the device I5 and holdit in place for resealing, even though the top indicator portion of thesaid closure 3* is broken out.

In Figs. 10 to 12 there is shown a construction substantially the samein principle to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3. However, instead ofillustrating the container as being a bottle, we have illustrated it asbeing a sheet metal can of the type commonly used for lubricating oiland similar materials. The can 2I is provided with a sheet metal spout22 having a thread 23 rolled therein. At the top of the spout 22 thereis provided a sheet metal breaking device 24 corresponding in functionto the device In shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The metal of the spout is bentinward and is depressed to form a ledge 25 for supporting the breakingdevice 24. In order to prevent the device 24 from turning the inclinedwalls adjacent the ledge 25 may be corrugated as shown at 26 in Fig. 12.The periphery of the breaking device 24 is shaped to fit thecorrugations at 25. The closure 3 is or may be substantially the same inconstruction as the closure 3 shown in Fig. 1, being provided with anindicator portion 6 The manner of use of the device shown in Figs. 10

to 12 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, andrepetition ofthe description is unnecessary.

The closure shown in Figs. 10 to 12 is particularly adapted for use oncans of lubricating oil to indicate to the purchaser that he isobtaining the original oil package by the manufacturer and that therehasbeen no substitution. The dealer can exhibit to the, customer thecomplete can with the closure intact, thus allowing the customer toobserve that the breakable indicator portion 6 is intact. Then inthe'presence of the customer the dealer can remove the closure 3 thusbreaking out the indicator portion 6 It will be observed that thisconstruction gives complete protection to the customer, but at the sametime avoids and destruction of or damage to the can itself. The can maybe returned to the manufacturer and bare-used, it being only necessaryto supply a new closure member 3 and probably a new breaking device 24each time the can is refilled.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a preformed threaded closure adapted to engage anexternal thread on a container and to normally completely cover thecontainer opening and having an integral portion constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, a gasket adapted todirectly engage the container to close and seal the mouth thereof whi hgasket is pressed against the container as the result of the engagementof the closurev thread with the container thread, and a normallyconcealed device adapted to permit free rotative movement of the closurein one direction into its normal container closing position but capableof engagement with the indicator portion of the closure so as to breakthe said portion upon movement of the closure in the opposite unscrewingdirection.

2. In combination, a preformed threaded clos ure adapted to engage anexternal thread-on a container and to normally completely cover thecontainer opening and having an integral portion constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, a gasket adapted todirectly engage the container to close and seal the mouth thereof whichgasket is pressed against the container as the result of the engagementof the closure thread with the container thread, and a normallyconcealed device adapted to permit free rotative movement of the closurein one direction into its normal container closing position but adaptedto automatically engage and break the indicator portion of the closureupon movement of the said closure in theopposite unscrewing direction.

3. In combination, an internally threaded closure adapted to engage anexternal thread on a container and to normally completely cover thecontainer opening and having an integral portion at the top constitutingan externally visible readily breakable indicator, and a normallyconcealed device adapted to be engaged directly with the container byvertically downward movement and when so engaged held against relativerotative movement in at least one direction, the said device beingadapted to permit free rotative movement of the closure in one directioninto its normal container closing position but adapted to automaticallyengage and break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement ofthe said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

4. In combination, an internally threaded closure adapted to engage anexternal thread on a container and to normally completely cover thecontainer opening and having an integralportion at the top constitutingan externally visible readily breakable indicator and having internalteeth formed thereon, and a normally concealed sheet metal deviceadapted to be engaged directly with the container by vertically downwardmovement and when so engaged held against relative rotative movement,the said device having integral resilient pawls at the top adapted tosnap over the teeth on the indicator of the closure during rotativemovement in the direction to screw the closure into its normal positionin relation to the container but adapted to automatically engage andhold the said teeth and thereby break the said indicator portion uponrotative movement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewingdirection.

5. The combination in a container closure means, of an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adapted to engage an external thread ona container and having an integral portion at the top constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, the said closure beingprovided with annular means surrounding the said indicator portion andadapted to directly engage the top of the container to prevent theescape of the container contents, and a normally concealed deviceadapted to be engaged with the container and thereby held againstrelative rotative movement, the said device being adapted to permit freerotative movement of the closure in one direction into its normalcontainer closing position but adapted to automatically engage and breakthe indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closurein the opposite unscrewing direction.

6. .The combination in a container closure means, of an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adaped to engage an external thread ona container and having an integral portion at the top constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, an annular gasket in theclosure surrounding the said indicator portion thereof and adapted todirectly engage the top of the container to prevent the escape of thecontainer contents, and a normally concealed device adapted to beengaged with the container and thereby held against relative rotativemovement in at least one direction, the said device being adapted topermit free rotative movement of the closure in one direction into itsnormal container closing position but adapted to automatically engageand break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the saidclosure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

'7. The combination in a container closure means, of an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adapted to engage an external thread ona container and having an integral portion at the top constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator and having internal teethformed thereon, the said closure being provided with annular meanssurrounding the said indicator portion and adapted to directly engagethe top of the container to prevent the escape of the containercontents, and a normally concealed sheet metal device adapted to beengaged with the container and thereby held against relative rotativemovement, the said device having integral resilient pawls at the topadapted to snap over the teeth on the indicator of the closure duringrotative movement in the direction to screw the closure into. its normalposition in relation to the container but adapted to automaticallyengage and hold the said teeth and thereby break the said indicatorportion upon rotative movement of the said closure in the oppositeunscrewing direction.

8. The combination of an externally threaded container having an openingof which a portion is non-circular in horizontal section, an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adapted to engage the external threadon the container and having an integral portion at the top constitutingan externally visible readily breakable indicator, the said closurebeing provided with annular means surrounding the said indicator portionand adapted to directly engage the top of the container to prevent theescape of the container contents, and a normally concealed deviceadapted to be engaged with the said non-circular portion of thecontainer opening and thereby held against relative rotative movement inat least one direction, the said device being adapted to permit freerotative movement of the closure in one direction into its normalcontainer closing position but adapted to automatically engage and breakthe indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closurein the opposite unscrewing direction.

9. A container having an external thread adapted to be engaged by aclosure of the cap type and having an opening of which a portion isnon-circular in horizontal section and adapted to receive and hold adevice for breaking a readily breakable top portion of the closure.

10. In a container closure means, the combination of an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adapted to engage an external thread ona container and having an integral portion at the top constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, the said closure beingprovided with annular means surrounding the said indicator portion andadapted to directly engage the top of the container to prevent theescape of the container contents and the said closure being alsoprovided with an external annular seat for an auxiliary lid, and anormally concealed device adapted to be engaged with the container andthereby held against relative rotative movement in at least onedirection, the said device being adapted to permit free rotativemovement of the closure in one direction into its normal containerclosing position but adapted to automatically engage and break out theindicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure inthe opposite unscrewing direction.

11. In a container closure means, the combination of an internallythreaded closure of the cap type adapted to engage an external thread ona container and having an integral portion at the top constituting anexternally visible readily breakable indicator, the said closure beingprovided with annular means surrounding the said indicator portion andadapted to directly engage the top or" the container to prevent theescape of the container contents and the said closure being alsoprovided with an external annular seat, a normally concealed deviceadapted to be engaged with the container and thereby held againstrelative rotative movement, the said device being adapted to permit freerotative movement of the closure in one direction into its normalcontainer closing position but adapted to automatically engage and breakout the indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the saidclosure in the opposite unscrewing direction, and an auxiliary lidadapted to fit the seat on the closure and to cover the openingresulting from the breaking out of the indicator portion of the closure.

12. The combination of an internally threaded outer closure of the captype adapted to engage an external thread on a container and hav ing anintegral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readilybreakable indicator, and'a device adapted to be engaged with thecontainer by vertically downward movement and when so engaged heldagainst relative rotative movement, the said device being provided withmeans adapted to directly engage the top of the container to prevent theescape of the container contentsand the said device being also adaptedto permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in one directioninto its normal position on the container but adapted to automaticallyengage. and break the indicator portion of the closure upon movement ofthe said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

13. The combination of an internally threaded outer closure of the captype adapted to engage an external thread on a container and having anintegral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readilybreakable indicator and having internal teeth formed thereon, and adevice adapted to be engaged with the container by vertically downwardmovement and when so engaged held against relative rotative movement,the said device being provided with means adapted to directly engage thetop of the container to prevent the escape of the container contents andthe said device having integral resilient pawls at the top adapted tosnap over the teeth on the indicator of the outer closure duringrotative I movement of the said closure in the direction to screw itinto its normal position on the container but adapted to automaticallyengage and hold the said teeth and thereby break the said indicatorportion upon rotative movement of the said closure in the oppositeunscrewing direction.

14. The combination of an internally threaded outer closure of the captype adapted to engage an external thread on a container and having anintegral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readilybreakable indicator, the said closure having an annular downward facinginterior shoulder surrounding the said indicator portion, and a deviceadapted to be engaged with the container by vertically downward movementand when so engaged held against relative rotative movement and adaptedto be engaged and held in place by the said shoulder on the outerclosure; the said device being provided with means adapted to directlyengage the top of the container to prevent the escape of the containercontents and the said device being also adapted to permit free rotativemovement of the outer closure in one direction into its normal containerclosing position but adapted to automatically engage and break theindicator portion of the outer closure upon movement of the said closurein the opposite unscrewing direction.

15. The combination of an internally threaded outer closure of the captype adapted to engage an external thread on a container and having anintegral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readilybreakable indicator, the said closure having a downward facing interiorshoulder spaced outward from the periphery of the said indicatorportion, and a device adapted to be engaged with the container byvertically downward movement and when so engaged held against relativerotative movement and adapted to be engaged and held in place by thesaid shoulder on the outer closure, the said device being provided withmeans adapted to directly engage the top of the container to prevent theescape of the container contents and the said device being also adaptedto permit free rotative movement of the outer closure in one directioninto its normal container closing position but adapted to automaticallyengage and break the indicator portion of the outer closure uponmovement of the said closure in the opposite unscrewing direction.

16. The combination of an externally threaded container having anopening and being non-circular in external horizontal section above thethread, an internally threaded outer closure of the cap type adapted toengage the external thread on the container and having an integralportion at the top constituting an externally visible readily breakableindicator, and a device adapted to be engaged with the said non-circularexternal portion of the container and thus held against relativerotative movement, the said device being provided with means adapted todirectly engage the top of the container to prevent the escape of thecontainer contents and the said device being also adapted to permit freerotative movement of the outer closure in one direction into its normalposition on the container but adapted to automatically engage and breakthe indicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closurein the opposite unscrewing direction.

17 The combination of a sheet metal container having a rolled threadsurrounding the opening thereof, an internally threaded closure adaptedto engage the externally exposed portion of the thread on the containerand to normally completely cover the container opening and having anintegral portion constituting an externally visible readily breakableindicator, a gasket adapted to directly engage the container to closeand seal the mouth thereof which gasket is pressed against the containeras the result of the engagement of the closure thread with the containerthread, and a normally concealed device adapted to permit free rotativemovement of the closure in one direction into its normal containerclosing position but adapted to automatically engage and break theindicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure inthe opposite unscrewing direction.

18. The combination of a sheet metal container having a rolled threadsurrounding the opening thereof, an internally threaded closure adaptedto engage the externally exposed portion of the thread on the containerand to normally completely cover the container opening and having anintegral portion at the top constituting an externally visible readilybreakable indicator, and a normally concealed device adapted to beengaged directly with the container by vertically downward movement andwhen so engaged held against relative rotative movement in at least onedirection, the said device being adapted to permit free rotativemovement of the closure in one direction into its normal containerclosing position but adapted to automatically engage and break theindicator portion of the closure upon movement of the said closure inthe opposite unscrewing direction.

BENJAMIN F. CONNER. WILLIAM F. SCHMALZ.

